Machine for delinking and segregating cartridges



May 12, 1953 H. BOEHMER 2,638,029

MACHINE FOR DELINKING AND SEGREGATING CARTRIDGES Filed Aug. 11, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet l (I h I mm 5/ I H a: I I I! 7 2 M D 1' @1- 25 22 r 84 I I l 50 l 7 -.6'4/ 5 U I 21- 5 ljllli- 194 i i 79 :1. Ink n grwQ/MM Harold Eyuehmer 334 v J%%M,;%M%W

y 1953 H. BOEHMER 2,638,029

MACHINE FOR DELINKING AND SEGREGATING CARTRIDGES Filed Aug. 11, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hen- 01d E'Juehmer y 2, 1953 H. BOEHMER 2,638,029

MACHINE FOR DELINKING AND SEGREGATING CARTRIDGES Filed Aug. 11, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 a7 Harald El: EhTnEI' y 1953 H. BOEHMER 2,638,029

MACHINE FOR DELINKING AND SEGREGATING CARTRIDGES Filed Aug. 11, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INvaN'ruR,

, Harald fEJDEhTTLEP j 72443 14 M wp/wfl g May 12, 1953 H. BOEHMER 2,638,029

MACHINE FOR DELINKING AND SEGREGATING CARTRIDGES Filed Aug. 11, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 :F' -5 4 4p 6/ ,B/ 62 4a 4 W" vii J V 6o J9 l I" i 7% 46 a 5 5 47 8 5 0 a -JL-f" va t- JI 83-b SAFETY RELEASE GAP CLUTCH Runs: 76 JEGREGATOR RflfAsf/lffjg lfl/ EXTRACTOR 2 MANUAL SWITCH BRAKE CIRCUIT RBI-ASE m9 /09 BREAKER 108 i #6 7/0 7/2 I F 9 7 E Harold Eanehmer May 12, 1953 H. BOEHMER 2,633,029

MACHINE FOR DELINKING AND SEGREGATING CARTRIDGES Filed Aug. 11, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FE -E| Patented May 12, 1953 MACHINE FOR DELINKING AND SEGREGAT- ING CARTRIDGES 3 Claims. (01. 86-48) (Granted under Title 35, U. S. Code .(1952),

see. 266,)" 1 Z The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in machines for de-linking and segregating cartridges and is intended more particularly to produce machines for processing cartridges of cal. .30 and cal. .50. The machine comprises a de-linking mechanism which removes the cartridges from the links and a segregating mechanism'which divides the removed cartridges according to their character. The particularly novel and useful features of the machine are a single power means driving both mechanisms, the continuous ole-linking of the fed belt, the automatic segregation of the classes of cartridges and the safety devices to interrupt the operation of the machine in case or" malfunctioning of its elements.

While there is illustrated in the drawings filed herewith, and hereinafter fully described one specific embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not considered to be limited to said specific embodiment but reference for its scope is made to the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings:

Figure l is the front elevation of the machine, portions of its frame being broken away.

Figure 2 is the left end elevation, portions of the frame and structure of the machine being broken away.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, in the direction of the arrows, a portion being broken away.

Figure 4 is a developed view of the de-linking drum, parts being broken away.

Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line 55 of Figure 3, in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a vertical section on the line -8--6 of Figure 4, in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is a diagram of the wiring circuits.

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 8-8 of Figure 1, in the direction of the. ar-

rows.

Figure 9 is a greatly enlarged section on the line 9-43 of Figure 8, in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 10 is a view showing extractor release switch mounted adjacent de-linking drum.

As illustrated in the drawings, the machine has a frame F of suitable angle irons. A plate .I is hinged in frame F and has a motor M mounted thereon. (Fig. 2.) A threaded bolt 2 in plate i co-acts with frame F as a belt-tightener. Mo-

tor M has a pulley 3 connected by belt 4 to-pulley 5 fixed on shaft 6 journaled in frame F and provided with a sprocket wheel I connected by sprocket chain 8 to sprocket wheel 9 loose on shaft l0 journaled in frame F. A spring clutch H serves to connect wheel 9 to shaft l0. Keyed on shaft H] are the double sprocket wheel l2 and the single sprocket wheel l3' for powering the tie-linking mechanism A and the segregating mechanism B, respectively.

The de-linking mechanism A comprises a cage A--! and a drum A-2 rotatable therein.

The cage A-l hascircuiar end plates l6 and i5 suitably mounted on the top of frame F, and

struts, a, b, c, d, e, g, h and z, bolted on the peripheries of and extending between plates l4 and 5. The drum A-Z comprises a cylindrical body it and end discs ll' to which body If) is attached as by welding (Fig. 6). Discs I! are fixed on shaft l8 journaled in plates l4 and I5 of the cage A-l, and provided on one end exterior to cage A-l with a double-sprocket wheel !9 con.- nected by a double-sprocket chain 20 to doublesprocket :wheel I 2. above mentioned.

' The de-linking mechanism A is supplied'with the linked cartridges through a feed throat 0 (Figs. 1, 2, 8) comprising tray 21, plates 22, drum 23 and rollers 24. The tray 2i (Fig. 2) has its outer end formed as a depending curved lip 2 i-.a to facilitate the. imposition of the link-belton tray 2! .and guide plates 22 are mounted on tray 2 iso that they converge in the direction of feed, their inner endsZZ-a beingrelatively spaced a distance corresponding to the length of the cartridges to be processed (Fig. l). .Tray 2] passes through a suitable orifice in frame F to provide for the feed throat C, and tray .2! is suitably supported on frame. E (Fig. 2). The drum 23 is freely rotatable on shaft 25 fixedzin'hrackets. 26 mounted on frame F. Rollers 24 are mounted in the ends of drum 23, respectively, for rotation therewith. ,suitableimeans are provided on shaft 25 to limit movement of drum .23 and rollers 24 a,xially of. shaft. 25, and'to align rollers 24 with the inner ends 22-a .of the guide plates 22, .respectively. It will be noted that each .end 22-11 has an arcuate edge 22-22 (Fig. 8.) concentric with roller 24, the edge 2242 being closely adjacent the periphery of roller 24. I'he drum 23 is pro vided on itsleft end .(as seen in Fig. 1) adjacent roller 24 with suitable relatively-spaced cartridge.- receiving sockets 23-11, and with a peripheral flange 23-17 (see Fig. 8). The tray 25 extending into the machine beyond the ends 22-11 or guide plates 22; passes below drum 23curvi'ng upwardly on an arc concentric with drum-23. It will be engaging the forward portion of thecase of less diameter than the base (Fig. 8).

The tray 2| has its inner end. 2| b extending into cage A-l of the de-linking mechanism A between struts a and i. It will be note'dXFig'. 8)

that the inner end 2|-b of tray 2| is so disposed that its face supporting the fed link belt is substantially tangent to drum A-2 at itsh'orizontal diameter. A-2 and 23 are parallelly disposed (Fig. 8), and the longitudinal axes of the cartridges seated in drum 23 are parallel with shaft 25 of drum 23, the fed cartridges are disposed substantially parallel with the body It when they are received in drum A-2.- v The body 6 of drum A-2 has, on its end toward plate 15 of' cage A-I, a series of thirty sockets 2T symmetrically disposed on the periphery of body l6, and a series of thirty sockets 28 aligned with sockets 21, respectively. As clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 8, the sockets 21 and 28 are designed to receive the links and portions of the cases embraced by the links, and the portions of the cases rearward; of the links, respectively; As shown, in Figs. 1 and 4, aguide plate 29 is mounted on the face of plate |5 adjacent the end of drum 'A-2, and so related to the feed throat C as to guide the linked cartridges properly to sockets and 28. It' is obvious (Fig. 4) that the point of the projectile of the cartridge bearing against plate 29, the links are in sockets 2? and the rear portions of the cases are in sockets 28.

The, body I6" is further provided with thirty trackways 36 disposed in sockets 28 and extending therefrom to end of body I6 adjacent" plate l4. Slidable in each trackway 30 there is a carriage 3|,"(Fig. 6) suitably keyed in body" |6. Each carriage 3| has an extractor 32 pivoted therein. Each extract0r'32 has a cam shoulder 32-11 and atgrip32b. A spring 32-0 biases extractor 32 in gripping position. 'A release button 32-11 on top ofextractor 32'is provided for releasing the extractor32after ithas functioned. The carriage 3| is provided with an upstanding post 3 |'-a about "which is rotatable a roller 3 |b provided for driving the carriage 3|. Y

The cage A-I is provided with two cam bars .33 and for driving the carriages 3| toward plates I5 and I4, respectively, to engage the cartridges and extract them from the links, respectively as the drum A-2 rotates. Bars 33 and 34 are mounted onthe inner faces of the struts of cage A-lwith suitable spacers 35 to properly dispose bars 33 and 34 to bear. on rollers 3| -b of the carriages 3|. As shownin Fig. 4, plate 33 extends under struts h, z, a, b, 0 and d, and is so configured as to drive carriages 3| from their inaximum retracted position as they pass under strut h to their maximum projected position as they pass under strut d, and plate 34 extends under struts d, e, f, y and h and is so configured as to drive carriages 3| from their maximum projected position as strut d to their maximum retracted position under strut h. A guide plate 36 suitably mounted on the inner faces of the struts of cage A-l extends under struts b, c, and (i, one end spaced slightly from strut a and its other end substantially reaching strut e. As shown in Figure 4, this plate 36 is disposed parallel with plate l5 and disposed over the forward part of sockets 28. A'plate 31 is mounted on the struts to extend from strut dto strut it directly over the link-receiving sockets 2?. A plate 38 is mounted on the struts to extend from strut e to slightly beyond strut h, and is disposed substantially parallel with the position of cam plate 34 between struts e and h, to correspond with the pathof travelof carriages 3| as they are moved Since shafts l8 and 25 of the drums l from under strut c to under strut h. Plate 38 serves to retain the cartridges, extracted from their links, in socket 28. Plate 39 mounted under struts g 'and it serves to bear on the projectiles of the extracted cartridges.

"A release dog 40 is suitably mounted on strut h to co-act with buttons 3241 to release the extractors 32 from the extracted cartridges to permit their discharge from drum A-2. As shown in Figs. 1, 4, 6, 8 and 9, the body l6 of the drum A-2 has three peripheral grooves 4|, suitably disposed relative to the link-receiving sockets 21,- for the intrusion therein oi stripperfingers 42 (Figs. 8, 9) on the upper open end of a link discharge chute 43. It will be noted (Fig. 8) that plate 31 extends to andmeets the open end of chute-4 3 to prevent accidental escape of the links. As shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 6, the body |6 has two peripheral grooves 44, suitably disposed relative to the cartridge-receiving sockets 28, for the intrusion therein of stripper fingers 45 (Fig. 3) for removing .the' extracted cartridges from thedelinking mechanism A, for delivery to the segregating mechanism B.

The segregatingmechanism B comprises a delivery drum B4 and a system'of valved-chutes 3-2. The segregating mechanism B is supported in frame F, inthe proper relation to the delinking mechanism A, by a pair of angle irons 46 and 41 mounted in frame'F. Bearings 48" on angle-irons 46 and 41, respectively, support shaft 49 on which is fixed a singlesprocket wheel'50 connected by sprocket chain 5| to single'spr'ocket Wheel |3 above mentioned; Itwill be noted (Fig. 1) that chains 20 and 5|, for driving drum A- of the de-linking mechanism'A anddrum 3-1 of the segregating mechanism B, respectively, are provided with idler sprocket wh'e'els52 and 53, respectively, pivotally mounted on frame F for adjustment relative to chains 20 and 5| to serveas chain tighteners.

The shaft 49 has the segregating drumB-l keyed thereon for rotation therewith. Drum B-l has a peripheralfiange 54.0n itsleft end and a peripheral flange Ion its right end, as viewed in Figs. 1-an'd'5. Flanges54 and 55 are provided with twenty cartridge receiving sockets 56 and 51, respectively. Sockets56 and 51 are aligned andso 'configurated as to seat the bases and tapered forward portions of the cartridgesf-respectively. Suitably mounted on shaft 49 there is a plate 58 bearing against the left end of drum -B-'| a having a radius sufiicient to close the left ends of sockets 56. A plate 59 is suitably mounted on shaft 49 and bears against a spacing collar 60 on shaft 49 and bearing against the right end of drum B-|. The radius of plate 59 is sufficient. so that plate 59 extends over the right endsof sockets 51. It will be noted (Fig. 5) that the parts areso related that plates 58 and 59 serve to maintain the cartridges properly disposed 5 in sockets 56 and 51 and prevent axial displacement.

The chute means by which the de-linked cartridges are supplied to sockets 56 and 5?, and the system of valved chutes B-2 are supported, in their proper positions in frame F, by a pair of inverted yokes 6i and 62 bolted to angle-irons 46 and 41, respectively, on opposite ends of drums B-l (Figs. 1, 3 and 5). The upper ends of the shanks of yokes 6! and 82 are connected by spaced plates toform the intake chute for drum B4. The stripper fingers 45 above mentioned are mounted on and project upwardly from the left plate, as viewed in Fig. 3, and the right plate is provided with an upwardly turned arcuate lip 63 co-acting withfingers 45 to form an intake throat for the cartridges stripped from the tie-linking drum Al. Hinged to the right connecting plate below the lip 53 there is a pair of spaced interconnected arcuate guide plates 64. It will be noted (Fig. 3) that plates 64 extend downwardly to the plane of the horizontal diameter of drum B-l where they co-act with fixed arcuate guide plates 65, respectively, supported on yokes Bi and 62. Plates 64 and 55 are curved concentric with drum Bl and are so disposed as to retain the cartridges in sockets 58 and 57 of drum 3-! against radial displacement. A leaf spring 66 mounted on strut h of the de-linking mechanism A bears against plates 6 to bias them toward drum 3-! to resiliently engage the cartridges seated in drum B4 The system of valved chutes B-Z (Fig. 3) has three chutes I, II and III, since the machine is designed to segregate the ole-linked cartridges into three groups according to the character of charges in the cartridges. Chute I on the left (as viewed in Fig. 3) is constantly open, and chutes II and III in the middle and on the right, respectively, are valved to be opened and closed periodically.

A pair of side plates 61 and 68 are bolted to the bifurcated lower ends of yokes 6! and 62 below their supporting angle-irons 4B and It! (Figs. 1, 3 and 5).

The inner opposed faces Ska and 58-0 of plates 67, 88, respectively (Fig. 5) are precisely spaced to provide the proper length for the intake openings of chutes I, II and III. It will be noted (Fig. 5) that these faces 61-11. and (SB-a lie in the vertical planes pressing through plates 58 and 59, so that the length of the said openings is slightly greater than the length of the cartridges. The plates 6'! and G8 are properly slotted to receive therein the ends of the inclined dividing plates 69, i and H of chutes I, II and III, which are suitably attached to plates 61 and 68. Plates 6&3, l0 and H are so relatively spaced (Fig. 3) as to provide the proper width of chutes II and III. An end plate 12 is bolted to plates 61 and 68 and spaced from plate .59 to provide the proper width of chute I. The width of chutes I, II and III, thus provided, is slightly greater than the maximum diameter of the cartridges.

Plates 6'! and G8 are provided with brackets Gl-b and 68b respectively. Slidable in bracket GLb are thetwo valve members 7'3,and 'slidable in bracket :iid-b are the two valve .members .11} and T -iFig.:3). As shown in Fig. 5, these valve members It, It and 15 are normally intruded into chutes II and III sufficiently to'prevent pas, sage of the cartridges into chutes II and III. As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the members M and T5 with whiclr co-act their associated members 13 are so disposedas-to normally'close chutes *II and III, respectively. It will be noted (Fig. :5) that the inner ends of members 13-are configured to receive thereon the bases of the cartridges and the inner ends of the members Ill and 15 are C9117 figured to receive thereon the outer tapered ends of the projectiles of the cartridges. It will also be noted (Fig. 5) that plates til, it and H are slotted to provide end ears which are suitably configured to co-act with the inner endsof members 13, Hi and '15 to guide the cartridges onto members it, It and 75.

The valve members 13., It and i5 are reciprocated to open and close chutes II and III by operating means actuated by rotation of shaft 49 of drum B-l. Brackets It and H are bolted to the upstanding shanks of yokes 5! and 62, respectively. The bracket 16 has pivoted thereon a pair of levers 18 having their lower ends re ceived in slots it-a in the outer ends of valve members 13, respectively. The bracket I? has pivoted thereon a pair of levers i9 and 89 having their lower ends received in slots i l-a and 15-61. in the outer ends of valve members It and 15, respectively. The levers i3, i9 and have crank arms on their upper ends, respectively, normal to levers iii, '59 and 80. In each arm 8| there is journaied a roller 82. These rollers 82 co-act with suitable cams for rocking levers i8, 78 and 853. A cam disc 83 is keyed on shaft 49 and provided with peripheral cams 83-0. and 83-?) coacting with rollers 8?. on levers 18. A cam disc 88 is keyed on shaft i9 and provided with peripheral cams 8t-a and 844) co-actingwith rollers 82 on levers l9 and 8d. The relation of the parts is such that cams 85-41 and 83a actuate rollers 82 on levers l9 and its associated lever "it for opening valve member is and its associated member it for control of chute II, and cams iii-b and 83-h actuate rollers 82 on lever Si] and its associated lever '18 for opening valve member '55 and its associated member 53 for control of chute III. Levers l8, l9 and 80 are provided with springs lfi-a, 19-41 and 30-11, respectively, mounted on brackets 16 and 17, for moving levers it, iii and 89 to normally close valve members it, it and i5. Suitable bumpers "IS-b, 79-73 and til-b are mounted on angle-irons 46 and i! to limit the cam-actuated movement of levers l8, l9 and 8G.

Chutes I, II and III are provided at their bottoms with discharge chutes 85, 85 and 8! respectively, for discharge of the segregated cartridges from the machine. Chutes 85, 86 and 81 are bolted to plates 61, (it and 12. A sup-porting plate 88 is suitably mounted under the upper portions of chutes 85, 86 and Si. Chutes 85 and 8'! may be hinged to the middle chute 86 for angular displacement to relatively space the paths of flow of the discharged cartridges.

The machine isv provided with a plurality of safety devices for automatically de-energizing the motor M and braking the driving mechanism in the event of malfunctioning of its elements. An extractor release (Fig. 1) is mounted on the de-linking mechanism A, and comprises a plunger switch 89! mounted on plate 15 of cage A-l. Switch 89 is closed by a trip 89a disposed between plate iii and the adjacent end of drum A-2 (Figs. 4 and 10) Should one of the extractors 32 fail to separate a cartridge from its links, the projectile of the unseparated cartridge contacting the trip 89a closes switch 89 (See Fig. 10). A segregator release (Fig. 3) is mounted on the segregating mechanism B, and comprises a plunger switch 9i] closed by a trip 9i mounted on hinged guide plates 64. Should one of the cartridges become displaced on the drum B-I, or any foreign matter be introduced, the plates, 64 yielding against spring 66 cause trip 9| to close switch 96. A segregator safety gap (Fig. is provided by the slotted plates 69, III and -'II. In the bottom of each slot there is a contact plate 92 insulated from the slotted plate to which is electrically connected a wire 93. Contact plates 92 haveinterconnected wires 94. Thus a gap is provided which is closed by any misplaced cartridge. accidentally lodged in the slotted plates '69, 19' and II. Av clutch release (Figs. 1 and 2) is mounted on frame F adjacent the spring clutch II, and comprises a plunger switch 95'. Should the spring clutch IIrelieve, due to jamming of the, driving mechanism, the clutc II closes switch 95.

The machine is provided with braking means (Figs. 1 and 2), comprising a brake shoe 9,6 co-acting with the periphery of pulley 5 which serves as a brake drum. Shoe 96 is fixed .on rod 91' and is slidable in guides 93 mounted .On frame F. A spring 99 bearing on frame F biases shoe 96 in engaging position. A rock shaft I90, journaledin frame F has a crank handle I9I on its end towardthe front of the machine and ,an-operating crank fork I92 on the 'end toward the rear of the machine. When handle IIII is moved counter-clockwise (Fig. l), the fork, I02 engaging head I63 of rod 97 raises rod 9'! compressing spring 99 and moving shoe 96 into inoperative position. Rod 97 has on its lower end a. notch 9'I-a in which is received a latch I94 :pivoted on frame. F (seeFig. 1). Latch :I64 is restrained by a spring-pressed catch I95. A magnet I96mounted on frameF is provided for releasing catch I05, when magnet I66 is energized. The parts are so related that whenthe brake is set, in inoperative position as above described, the latch I94 engaged by catch I95 locks rod 91 in elevated position. When magnet I66 is ,-energized; catch I95 is drawn by magnet I96 from its-engagement with latch I94 which .is then free topivot releasing rod .97, for applilcation ofshoe 96. Latch I64 carries a contact member ID! for, knife switch I68... When the latch. I94. is rocked-bythe depression ofrod 91 by action of spring 99, contact member IIl'I'is moved from switch I98 to open the circuit..- The diagram of the wiring circuit .(Fig. 7-); for :the -motor M, the magnet I99 and thefour safety. devices above described, indicates, their functioning. A manual switch I99 is-provided in wire III] from the current source. Switch. I68 of the brake .circuit-breakeris .in thiswire II9. Wire III connectswire III! with motor M whichis connectedby wire ill with the current source. When manual switch "I89 .is closed and switch I98 is closed by the inoperafive-position of brake shoe 95, current flows through wires II8, III and II! to energize motor .M -to. power the machine.

.Wire H3 connects wire II9 with the magnet --I,96;Zwhich is connectedby wire II4 to Wires ,I I5, H6 and III of switch 89 of the extractor release, switch 99 of the segregator release, and

8 93 and 94 are open, and magnet I06 de-energized; Should malfunctioning of the machine cause any one of the switches 89, 99 and or the safety gap to become closed, as above described, current flowing through wire I14, the closed switch 'or gap, and wire II2 energizes the magnet-l06 :which, as above described, opens switch I98 to deenergize the motor M and apply brake shoe 96 to .pulley 5' to brake the driving mechanism of the machine. The shaft 6 of the driving mechanism is provided on its end with lugs B-a for engagement (with the slotted head of a removable handcrank for manual adjustment of the de-linking mechanism A and the segregating mechanism B. Theoperation of, the machine will now be described. The linked cartridges are introduced into the machine through the feed throat C being passed along tray 2I and under drum 23 ,(Figs. 1, 2, 8). The fed belt is so disposed that the projectiles of the cartridges are to the right ,(Fig'. l) and the bases to the left to fit into the sockets 23-11. The belt is passed between struts a and i of the cage A-I (Fig. 8) and up- ,wardly along inner end 2I-b of tray 2I so that the cartridges are seated in sockets 21 and '28 of drum A-2, as shown by the cartridge in broken lines in'Fig. 4. It will be noted that as the cartridges are received in sockets 21 and 28 they have been so disposed'by their passagethrough feed throat C that the nose of the projectile bears on guide plate 29, the links are received'in sockets 21 and the portion of the case rearwardly of the links in sockets128.

In the operation, hereinafter described, of the .de-linking mechanismA of the machine embody- :ing the invention,. illustrated in the drawings and hereinbefore described, the links and car- ,tridges are separated by engaging the'links in their sockets 21, to prevent any movement of the links axially of the drum A-2, and the cartridges are movedin their sockets 28 axially of the :drum A-2, to withdraw-the cartridges from the engaged links. It is obvious that the machine can be designed to operate so that the cartridges are'engaged in their sockets 28 to prevent any movement of the cartridges axially of thedrum A-2, and the links can be moved in their sockets 2'I axially of the drum A-Z, to withdraw the links :from the engaged cartridges.

, Rotation of drum A-2' causes the rear portions of the cases to pass under plate 36 as they pass from strut a to strut b thus confining the cases in'sockets 28. The links pass under plate ,3! as the cartridges pass from strut c to strut 11, .thus confining the links in sockets 21. When the cartridges are thus confined as they pass strut .d, the cases are engaged by extractors 32 projected by the forward movement of carriages 3|. ,On engagement, the carriages 3| are retracted, the engaged extractors 32 separating the cases from the links. It is to be understood that the plate 36 has its inner face which bears on, the cases sufficiently spaced from drum A-2 that :itsjforward edge engages the rear edgesv of the links to prevent their retraction.

-. Asthe cartridges pass strut e, they pass from plate 36 under plate'38 as they are withdrawn from the links. The links are retained in sockets '21 until they reach strut h (Figs. 4, 8), where they are stripped from drum A-Z by fingers 42 to be received in chute 43 and discharged from the machinefi. As above explained, should a cartridge be not separated from its links, its projectile protruding into the space .betweenthe forward end of drum A4 and plate IE will engage the trip 89a of switch 89 to stop the machine before the linked cartridge reaches the fingers 42. The separated cartridges have their projectiles engaged by plate 39 as well as their cases by plate 38 until they reach strut h to insure their retention in sockets 28. As the retracted carriages 3| pass strut h, the release dog 40 engages the buttons 32-d of extractors 32 causing them to be disengaged from the cartridges. The released cartridges, passing from under plates 38 and 39, are stripped from drum A-Z by fingers 45 and are received on the arcuate lip 63 of the feed chute for the segregating drum B-I (Fig. 3).

It will be noted (Fig. 3) that the sockets 51 of the drum 3-! are relatively spaced somewhat greater than sockets 28 of drum A-2. It is obvious that the spacing of sockets 28 is determined by the relative spacing of the linked cartridges fed to sockets 28. The spacing of sockets 51 to receive the de-linked cartridges is determined by the details of construction of the system of valved chutes B-2-. It will be noted that this increased spacing of sockets 5! over i,

sockets 28 demands a higher rate of rotation of drum 3-4 over that of drum A'-2 which is provided by a greater diameter of the driving sprocket wheel t3 for drum B-Z over that of the driving sprocket wheel A-2.

It is to be understood that the machine is designed to process a link belt composed of units, each of which has five cartridges arranged as follows, a single cart-ridge, such as a tracer,

a pair of cartridges, such as ball, and a pair of cartridges, such as incendiary. The segregating mechanism B processes these units, successively, to discharge the three kinds of cartridges through the chutes I, II and III, respectively.

The cartridges fed by gravity through the feed chute for the drum B-I are seated in sockets 56 and 51 therein and are retained therein by guide plates 64 and 65 (Fig. 3).

The operation of the system of valved chutes is such that as the rotation of drum 3-! delivers each of the above-described units of five cartridges, the valve members 13, M and 15 close chutes II and III. (tracer) in the lead position in the unit passes over closed chutes II and III, it is discharged by gravity through the constantly open chute I. As the single cartridge is discharged, the valve [2 for the drum r;

When the single cartridge members 13 and 14 open chute II and the first cartridge of the first pair (ball) having passed over closed chute III is discharged by gravity through opened chute II. When the second cartridge of the first pair, having passed over the closed chute III, is discharged by gravity through the still open chute II, the valve members 13 and 15 open chute III and the first and second cartridges of the second pair (incendiary) are successively discharged by gravity through the open chute III. When the second cartridge of Q ing the cartridges and the valve members 13, 14 and 15. That is, a certain pair of sockets 56 and 51 must be ready to discharge a single cartridge when they are rotated over chute I, and the next two pairs 56 and 51 must be ready to discharge two cartridges when they pass over chute II and the third pair 55 and 5? to discharge two cartridges through chute III. To accomplish this operation, each unit of five cartridges must be received in a determined series of five pairs of sockets 55 and 57. Every fifth socket 51 of drum B-l may bear a distinctive mark, such as a tell-tale red mark to correspond to the red marked projectile of the tracer cartridge. To condition the machine for operation, the driving mechanism is driven manually, slowly charging the de-linking drum A-2. The linked belt must be fed to the machine with the red marked tracer cartridge the first one to be received in the de-linking mechanism A, followed by the two ball cartridges and the two incendiary cartridges. As the de-linked cartridges are fed through the chute to the segregating mechanism B, they are held against entry to drum 3-! until a socket 5'! having the red mark is positioned directly below the feed chute. The first fed cartridge (red marked tracer) is thenallow'ed to drop into the proper sockets 56 and 51, and the machine is properly primed. The manual switch W9 is then closed, and the machine functions as above described.

Having described the claim is:

I. In a machine for de-linking cartridges, the combination of a cylindrical cage comprising circular end plates and a plurality of struts mounted on the peripheries of said plates and extending therebetween; a cylindrical drum rotatably mounted in said cage concentrically invention, what I therewith, said drum being-provided on its periphery with a plurality-of sockets for receiving the links of the cartridges and a plurality of sockets for receiving the cases of the cartridges, axially aligned with the link-receiving sockets, respectively; a plurality of carriages on the peripher or" the drum and slidable axially thereof in grooves in the periphery of said drum aligned with the case-receiving sockets, respectively, each of said carriages having a post projecting radially from said drum, and a roller rotatable about each post; a cam plate, mounted on the cage struts, for co-action with said rollers to drive said carriages toward one of said cage end plates, when said drum is rotated; a second cam plate, mounted on the cage struts, for co-action with said rollers to drive said carriages toward the other of said cage end plates, when the drum is rotated; means on each carriage [or grasping a socketed case when the carriage is driven by said first cam plate, and for withdrawing the grasped case from the links when the carriage is driven by the second plate; means. mounted on one of said cage struts, to disengage each withdrawing means from the withdrawn case; and means to discharge separately from the machine the withdrawn cartridges and the links.

2. In a machine for de-linking linked cartridges, the combination of a rotatable drum having a plurality of link-receiving sockets, a plurality of sockets for receiving the portions of the cases of the cartridges posterior to the links, and peripheral grooves intersecting said sockets; means, mounted adjacent said drum, for guiding the linked cartridges fed to the drum to seat said links and posterior portion in said sockets, respectively; means, mounted adjacent said drum, for engaging saidlinks in their sockets to immobilize said links axially ofsaid drum; means, mounted on said drum, for grasping and moving the cartridges axially of said drum to withdraw said cartridges from-the engaged links; a chute, mounted adjacent said drum,; for dis charging from the machine'the links from which the cartridges have been withdrawn; a series of stripper fingers mounted on said chute and extending into said grooves intersecting said linkreceiving sockets; a second chute, mounted adjacent said drum, for discharging iromsaid drum the withdrawn cartridges; and a seriesofstripper fingers mounted on said second chute and extending'into said grooves intersecting said case-receiving sockets, the parts being so related that the linked-cartridges are seated in the sockets as the sockets are brought, by rotation of the drum, to'the zenith of the vertical diameter of 3. vIna machine for de-linking linked cartridges,

the combination of a rotatable drum having a first plurality of peripheral link-receiving grooves parallel to the longitudinal axis of said drum,

a second plurality of peripheral grooves axially alinedwith said first plurality for receiving the portions ofycartridges posterior to said links, and ;a, third pluralityof peripheral grooves axially alined with said second and first plurality, a projectable and retractable extractor carriage slidable in each of said third plu- 1;

rality of grooves, comprising a main body post, means adjacent said drum for supplying linkedcartridges to said first and second plurality of. grooves, a first cam plate mounted adjacent the periphery of said drum co-acting with said roller toproject said, main body portion and said extractor into cartridge grasping position as said drum rotates, a second cam plate mounted adjacent the periphery of said drum co-acting with said roller to retract said main body portion and said extractor as said drum continues to rotate to thereby withdraw said cartridge, means mounted adjacent said drum and cooperating with said firstv plurality of grooves to immobilize said 1inks,wh ereby said cartridges are delinked as said drum continues to rotate, and stripper fingers mounted in grooves in said-drum intersecting said first and second pluralitypof grooves for stripping said delinked cartridgesand said-links from said drum. a l w "HARHOLD BQEHMERL" I References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lyon Jan .-,25,4949 

